Real Clear Foundation
The foundation's mission is to underwrite news aggregation and content which promotes responsible journalism and educational programs for public interest.
Real Clear Foundation at a glance
In short: Real Clear Foundation gave $4.7M across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $1.6M), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,705,242
- +27.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,568,414
- +70.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000,000
- Total assets
- $6,429,602
- -27.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Real Clear Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Real Clear Holdings LLC ($3.7M). Together the top 3 received $4.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 5 grants of 14 (36%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Real Clear Foundation gives
- Giving grew 4605% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2022) to $4.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $4.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Real Clear Holdings LLC Northbrook, IL | To support responsible journalism with the interest of educating the public. | $3,651,992 |
| Palladium Pictures LLC Chevy Chase, MD | To support responsible journalism with the interest of educating the public. | $1,000,000 |
| Real Clear Media Fund Northbrook, IL | To support responsible journalism with the interest of educating the public. | $53,250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,429,602 | $7,433,300 | $10,396,766 | $4,705,242 | 3 | $250,277 |
| 2024 | $8,912,529 | $13,493,125 | $8,756,104 | $3,687,258 | 4 | $47,083 |
| 2023 | $4,242,053 | $8,476,449 | $9,154,676 | $4,075,000 | 5 | — |
| 2022 | $4,984,484 | $3,614,001 | $5,265,385 | $100,000 | 1 | — |
| 2021 | $6,694,887 | $5,318,894 | $4,094,803 | $400,000 | 1 | — |
| 2020 | $3,638,852 | $3,756,043 | $2,406,607 | — | — | $-5,463 |
About Real Clear Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Real Clear Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Northbrook, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $4.7M. Net investment income was $250K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Real Clear Foundation is led by David Desrosiers, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Desrosiers
President
Chairman, President & Secretary → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$155K (2020) → $179K (2025)
Andrew Walworth
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John McIntyre
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$90K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $179K, to David Desrosiers (President).
Frequently asked questions about Real Clear Foundation
How much does Real Clear Foundation give each year?
Real Clear Foundation gave $4.7M across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.7M across 4 grants.
What is Real Clear Foundation's typical grant size?
Real Clear Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000,000, and its average grant was $1,568,414, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Real Clear Foundation give grants?
Real Clear Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Northbrook, IL (2 grants).
Does Real Clear Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Real Clear Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Real Clear Foundation?
Real Clear Foundation reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.4M.
What is Real Clear Foundation?
Real Clear Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Northbrook, IL. It holds $6.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Real Clear Foundation's EIN?
Real Clear Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2128875. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Figures come from Real Clear Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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